Cover Crop Project Overview

Cover Crop Project Overview There were four different cover crop treatments applied to this plot at Jim Purfeerst. Three treatments were inter-seeded into standing corn on June 25, 2014, and the fourth one was aerial applied on August 12, 2014. The project is attempting to identify best options for establishing a cover crop in standing corn during the growing season and to determine if these cover crop treatments created a yield drag on a crop of corn, and potentially show a yield response for a crop of soybeans planted in the succeeding year. The three June inter-seeded treatments where broadcast with a carrier of 100 pounds of 46% Urea/acre fertilizer. The first 48 rows were broadcast seeded and then cultivated (ISTC). The second 48 rows were broadcast seeded and no tillage was done (ISNT). The third 48 rows were cultivated prior to broadcast seeding (ISCP). Seeding rates and cover crop varieties were as follows: Forage Radish @4 pounds/acre Annual Ryegrass @10 pounds/acre White Clover @3 pounds/acre The total seed cost/acre for this June 25th activity was $31.82 and the custom application rate was $7.31, for a total cost of $39.18. The August aerial seeding was applied with a helicopter service and only seed was applied without any carrier (ASNT). Seeding rates and cover crop varieties were as follows: Forage Radish @8 pounds/acre Winter Cereal Rye @ 82 pounds/acre The final seeding rate per square foot was calculated at 4.5 seeds/square foot for the radish and 21.1 seeds/square foot for the rye. The total seed cost $45.45/acre and custom application rate was $20/acre, for a total cost of $65.45/acre. The stand count was evaluated in the four treatments on October 16, 2014. The results were calculated as the number of established plants per square foot at uniform locations 100 feet and 200 feet from the head-rows. The results were as follows: ISTC 15.5 rye 4.2 clover .6 radish ISNT 17.2 rye 5.4 clover .8 radish ISCP 13.5 rye 6.0 clover .8 radish ASNT 10.3 rye 4.3 radish The plot was harvested on November 4th, 2014. Three passes were taken in each of the June inter-seeded plots and each pass was weighed. One pass was taken on the aerial seeding and weighed and one pass was taken on the check strip that had no cover crop applied to it and weighed. The result of this activity is on the preceding page. The four cover crop treatments average 230.9 bushels/acre and the check averaged 227.5 bushel/acre. Contributors to this project were Jim Purfeerst, farm operator, Steve Pahs Rice County Soil and Water Conservation District, Tom Coffman USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Doug Wertish, Mark Wehe, and Eric Kingsley, Farm Business Management, South Central College, Faribault Campus, Connor McCormick, student St. Olaf College, and Gene Kuntz Cannon River Watershed Partnership. Observations and Recommendations  Eventual stand count for June inter-seeded of Radish was not acceptable (2 to 3 plants/square foot is desirable)  Eventual stand count for June inter-seeded of Annual Ryegrass was acceptable  Eventual stand count for June inter-seeded White Clover was acceptable  Eventual stand count for August aerial seeded Radish was very acceptable  Eventual stand count for August aerial seeded Cereal Rye was acceptable but less than June  Broadcasted inter-seeded was not uniform over the 60 foot width of broadcast (Ryegrass did not get spread over the entire 60 foot width, but Radish and White Clover did)  Broadcast inter-seeded without any cultivation gave the best final stand of cover crop varieties  There was no major difference between plant vigor and height of the cover crop varieties when evaluated on October 16th when comparing all four treatments  There was observed tremendous growth and vigor of all cover crop varieties from the October 16th observation date and the harvest date of November 4th (19 days)  There is not a yield difference when these cover crops were applied to a standing crop of corn (yield drag)